T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Love Lesson
By Thomas Burke (18861945)(From The Song Book of Quong Lee of Limehouse, 1920) |
LAST night I dreamed of the maid with yellow curls, | |
She came to me in the room above my shop, | |
And we two were alone, freed from the laws of day. | |
I held her then to myself. | |
I took from her her clothing, garment by garment, | 5 |
And watched them fall about her feet— | |
White petals of a flower. | |
And I drew from her to myself her thoughts, one by one, | |
As often I had wished, till all of her was mine. | |
And then I was sad, for nothing was left to love. | 10 |
And quickly I clothed her again, garment by garment, | |
And gave her back her thoughts, one by one, | |
And awoke in joy. | |
I was glad that the dream was a dream, | |
And that all of her was not mine; | 15 |
For I had learned | |
That love released from bond, and unburdened of its fetters, | |
Is love no longer. | |